For the Buccaneers, the 2024 season ended with a damp squib, as an inspired Washington Commanders side sent Tampa Bay crashing out of the Wild Card Round with a narrow 23-20 win over Todd Bowles’ charges. The Commanders had been on a five-game winning streak leading up to the Wild Card match, but the Buccaneers still went into the tie as favorites to progress to the next round.
While there is a tiny bit of solace in the fact the Commanders went on to beat the Detroit Lions, who were listed as Super Bowl favorites for those betting on US sites, the defeat still represents a disappointing end to a season that promised more. After improving on the 2023 regular season record, the inability to make the Divisional Round is a step backwards for the Bucs. With another key offseason ahead, what factors need to be addressed to give the Bucs a real chance of fighting for a first Super Bowl title since 2021?
More Consistency from Mayfield
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Baker Mayfield’s ability to throw a football. Mayfield was tied in second place with Lamar Jackson for touchdowns thrown while his 71.4% pass completion was ranked third for regular starting quarterbacks behind Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff. However, despite posting MVP-level numbers when releasing the football, mistakes and decision making with the ball continue to hold Mayfield and the Bucs back.
Mayfield will not want to see the interceptions statistics from the 2024 season back. With 16 interceptions, Mayfield sits joint top of the list with Kirk Cousins, while being sacked 40 times also does not make for good reading. However, while the Bucs defense could provide better coverage to reduce the number of sacks, it is the fumbles from Mayfield that are particularly hurting the Bucs, especially at key moments.
One of the costliest fumbles came against the Commanders in the fourth quarter following a mix up with rookie wide receiver, Jalen McMillan, which led to a crucial go-ahead touchdown for Washington. In games of fine margins, the smallest errors get punished. Something Mayfield will attempt to eradicate in the 2025 season.
Defensive Draft?
While strengthening the defense can give Mayfield better cover, Bowles and his coaching staff might prioritize defensive players in the 2025 draft to try and defend better against opposition passes. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens were behind the Bucs for passing yards conceded with only seven interceptions picked emphasizing the need to strengthen the defensive line. The Buccaneers can point to an unfortunate raft of injuries in this position, with the loss of Antoine Winfield Jr. a particularly big miss, but with injuries part and parcel of NFL, more depth would certainly help the team against the ball.
Once again against the Commanders, the weakness through the air was exploited as Jayden Daniels racked up 268 yards for two touchdowns. To put that into greater perspective, Washington averaged 224.2 passing yards per game in the 2024 season, versus 243.9 yards conceded per game by the Bucs.
Find the Balance
With the likes of Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, and the boot of Chase McLaughlin, the Bucs have the artillery to go all the way again. While there are fewer grumblings around the Bucs offensive game, trying to outgun the opposition in every single match is a risk. On the flip side, even the Kansas City Chiefs have had criticism thrown at them for an over-reliance on their defense.
By achieving a better balance with a tighter defense, some of the responsibility and expectations could be taken off Mayfield’s shoulders to allow him to cut down on the game-defining errors. The 2025 draft could play a big role in this evolution in the Bucs’ game, and when it comes to defense, former defensive back, Todd Bowles, should be able to find the solution to give his team the right balance.
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